Antiaircraft and machine gun mount



April 2, 1946. R. B. LINDSEY ET AL AN'I'IAIRCRAFT AND MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed June 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 2, 1946. R B L NDSEY ETAL 2,397,747

ANTIAIRCRAFT AND MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed June 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fioyfiLndsey Georye FrpcZ Patented Apr. 2, 1946 Mimi? ANTIAIRCRAFT AND MACHINE GUN MOUNT Roy Benjamin Lindsey, Phoenix, and George Frock, Glendale, Aria, assignors of one-third to Harry 3. Mauler, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application June 3, 1942, Serial No. 445,626

3 Claims.

is to provide an anti-aircraft and machine gun mount having an ammunition cradle in which the receptacle for the ammunition belt is supported, which will maintain the ammunition belt receptacle in correct position at all times while the gun is being fired, regardless of the angle of the gun, such ammunition carrying means taking the place of and, consequently, eliminating the gunners helper,

Another object of the invention is to provide in a gun mount of the character stated a novel construction wherein the oscillatable ammunition receptacle cradle is rocked by and in response to the oscillatory movements of the gun.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a demountable and portable anti-aircraft and machine gun mount for light and heav caliber guns which is designed for extreme simplicity and speed of assembling and, taking down and which is, at the same time, light of weight yet sufficiently rugged for any usage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a gun'mountoi the character stated a novel base unit or leg unit which may be easily and quickly folded or unfolded for use and which has associated therewith a novel means for looking the legs in extended position for use or in folded position.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the antiaircraft and machine gun mount embodying the present invention, parts being broken away,

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the upper half of the mount structure.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the upper half of the structure.

I Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the base structure for the mo n Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-5 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a horizontal section, looking up, on the line 7-4 of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a detailed section showing the looking relation of the ring and the upper end of a brace arm when the legs are unfolded.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the reference character S generally designates the standard for the present gun mount, while the character C indicates as a whole the ammunition carrier or support and the base assembly for the standard is generally identified by the reference character B.

The standard comprises the vertically disposed lower post II] which is secured at its lower end to a plate I I forming a part of the base assembly and is maintained upright by the latter. This lower post is tubular at its upper end and receives the lower end of the upper post or rotating gun support I2, the upper end portion of which is angled to extend obliquely upwardly from the vertical, as indicated at [3. This upper post has in snug encircling relation therewith the adjustable set collar [4 which rests upon the top of the lower post as shown. This collar M has threaded therethrough the set screw l5 which engages at its inner end the post [2 so as to maintain the latter in vertically adjusted position. However, the post I2 is permitted free rotation in the upper end of the lower post In so that any desired position may be assumed by the gun supported upon the upper post.

The upper end of the upper post is formed to provide the trunnion pin cone bearing it which receives the trunnion pin of the gun, not shown, which is to be supported upon the mount. The post l2 has threaded through the upper end thereof to extend into the trunnion pin cone [6 the looking or securing screw ll which engages the gun trunnion pin to secure the latter in the cone and thus firmly lock the gun upon the upper end of the rotatable supporting post 12.

The numeral l8 generally designates a bed or support for the hereinafter described cradle. This bed comprises the horizontal bottom bar IS with which are integrally connected, at spaced points, the parallel inner and outer trunnion arms 20 and 2| respectively which terminate at their upper ends in the short opposed and aligned trunnions 22,

The inner end of the bottom bar l9 bed structure is extended to form the axle 23 of the aperture 26 which receives a securing or looking key 21 which functions to prevent withdrawal 7 of the axle.

The stop plate 25 and the post 12 against which 7 it abuts, are provided with aligned apertures to receive a position retainer pin 28. This functions to prevent rotation of the axle 23 in its bearing.

The numeral 29 generally designates the ammunition receptacle supporting cradle which .is carried by the cradle bed I 8.. This cradle comprises a bottom or base portion 30 from which extends upwardlythe frame 3! which-is substantially triangular in cross-section and which has one side extending upwardly in the plane of a longitudinal side of the base 38. At the top of this triangular fram 3| and at each end is a trunnion bearing 32 which receives a trunnion 22. Due to the fact that the plane of the arms 20 and 2! is parallel with the angular upper portion 13 of the gun supporting post and that the axis of oscillation for the cradle is ofiset from one longitudinal side thereof, the cradle hangs or ispositioned somewhat behind the standard.

Fixed to the inner end of the cradle frame 3| at the top of the latter is a rearwardly and inwardly extending cradle arm 33. ,One portion of this arm extends rearwardly, as indicated at 34, while the other portion is angularly related to the rearwardly extended portion 34 and projects laterally so as .to extend across and beneath the barrel of a gun placed on the mount. This arm constitutes a regulator or compensating arm, and is engaged by the gun barrel to cause the cradle to be tilted or oscillated automatically with the oscillation of the gun barrel so that th ammunition belt will be fed from the ammunition box supported upon the cradle.

The bearings 32 may be of the ordinary sleeve type or they may be roller or ball bearings, as desired, and also the axle 23 for the cradle bed may be welded or otherwise integrally secured to the angular upper end portion of the gun post l2, if such construction should be found suitable.

It will be readily apparent that by providing the angular or oblique upper end portion l3 of the gun supportin post a higher angle of fire for the gun is allowed. This angle for the portion l3 may beof any desired or suitable degree from the vertical. Also, by inclining the bed frame or support for the cradle the cradle is suspended, as previously pointed out, outside the bed and to the rear of the standard so that the ammunition receptacle when placed on the cradle will be in such position that the ammunition belt will feed tothe gun without danger of striking any parts of the mount.

The base assembly includes, as previously stated, the base plate ll upon which the lower post IU of the standard is supported. This base plate is provided at suitable spaced pointsaround its periphery, preferably three, with bearing blocks 36, each of which has pivotally connected therewith, by means of a pivot pin 31, a supporting leg 38. Each of these legs adjacent. its outer end has secured to the under side there of a leg shoe 39 which may be of any conventional size or make suitable to the particular standard or mount. Such shoes prevent side movement or "crawling of the completed mount while the gun is firing.

Each of the legs 38, at its outer end, carries a locking vor securing lug 40 which is arranged to be directed downwardly when the leg is in unfolded or operative position so that it will be directed radially outwardly from the lower post I!) when the leg is swung upwardly to folded or inoperative position against the post.

Each leg 38 carries upon its upper side a leg brace arm bearing block 4| to which is pivotally connected, 'bymeans of a pin 42, an end of a brace arm 43 for the leg.

The. upper end of each brace '43 carries a transversely extending slightly arcuate slide 44 which facilitates locking the brace arm to the post l0.

} Secured to the post for cooperation with each slide 44 is a locking block 45 which projects outwardly from the face of the post and which has a channel or recess 46 in its top side and a vertical outwardly facing slot 41 leading into the channel. The radially directed side of each locking bloc-k carries the outwardly extending lockin cars 48 which are disposed upon the two sides of the slot. As illustrated, each leg 43 is disposed to ride in a slot 41 of the locking block adjacent thereto and the slide element 44 of the leg when moved downwardly on the post enters the channel 46 of the locking block.

Cooperating with the locking blocks 45 is a locking ring 49 which encircles the post It and has free sliding movement thereon. This ring has the undercut channel in its lower face, as indicated at 50, whereby is formed an inwardly directed flange 5| which is spaced from th post a distance'substantially equalling the radial extent of'a locking block from the post. The .flan e 5| of the locking ring is cut out or slotted, as-

at '52, at points 'equi-distantly spaced'and equalling in number the locking lugs 45, the slots being of sufficient depth for the locking block ears to pass through into the channel 50.

The channel 50 of the locking ring is also designed to receive the leg lug 40 for the purpose of lockin the leg in folded position.

It will be readily apparent that when the legs 33 are unfolded the slide 44 of the leg braces will ride down the post 1 El and enter the channels 45 of the locking blocks. The locking ring '49 which is located above the locking blocks, will follow the slides downwardly and, when rotated toproper position, the flange slots of the locking ring will be in position for the locking block ears to pass into the locking ring channel. The looking lugs will, of course, be disposed between the locking ring flange and the post, together with the slides in engagement therewith and, consequently, when the locking ears have entered the channel of the locking ring the ring may be turned slightly so that the cars will pass into a portion of the channel away from the flange slot'and function to hold the ring against upward movement.

Inprder to secure the ring against rotation after it is in leg locking position a suitable aperture is formed through the ring for the extension therethrough of a locking pin or key 53 which extends across one side of a locking lug and thus prevents turning of the ring with respect to the lug.

When the legs 38 are to be folded the locking ring 45 is released so that it may be slid up on the post m away from the lugs or slides, whereupon the legs are folded inwardly against the post, thereby turning the leg lugs outwardly. The leg lugs are then engaged in the channel of the locking ring by passing them through the flange slots 52, whereupon rotary movement of the looking ring will cause the leg lugs to engage over the locking ring flange and thereby secure the upper ends of the legs in place.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that in the present invention has been provided a novel and improved mount for guns of the type of anti-aircraft and machin guns, which will support the ammunition belt receptacle in proper working position so that the belt can be fed freely to ther ll regardless of the angular disposition of the latter. This is made possible by the automatic swinging of the cradle on which the receptacle is mounted, through the cooperative action of the cradle and the cradle arm which is engaged by the gun barrel beneath which it extends.

The entire gun mount may also be constructed of any suitable flat or tubular or solid material of suitable composition to withstand the strains which a structure of this type must sustain.

We claim: m

1. Mounting means for a gun of a type employing a belt ammunition feed and adapted to oscillate when in use, comprising a standard having an upper end portion directed obliquely with respect to the vertical, means at the upper end of said oblique portion facilitating the mounting thereon of a gun of the above type, an elongated support comprising a bottom bar carrying two upwardly extending arms terminating at their upper ends in opposed trunnions, an axle extending from one end of the bar and secured to the angled portion of the upper post, a cradle structure disposed between said arms and-comprising a bottom and an upwardly extending frame of triangular cross-section having a straight side extending upwardly in the plane of one longitudinal side of the bottomJoearings at the ends of said triangular frame, said bearings pivotally receiving said trunnions.

2. Agun mount as set forth in claim 1, in which said axle is mounted in a bearing in the oblique portion of saidupper post.

3. A gun mount as set forth in claim 1, in which the vertical plane of the axis of oscillation for the cradle parallels the vertical axis of the standard and is offset from that side of the standard toward which the oblique portion of the post bears, and an arm connected with the upper part of the frame of said cradle and extending forwardly and laterally across the opposite side of the standard to engage across the under side of the barrel of a gun supported on the mount.

ROY BENJAMIN LINDSEY. GEORGE FROCK. 

